Main Points on the Political Continuum

[Geo]

On another thread a poster said that Americans want a President who is slightly right of center. This got me wondering-

What is center? What is slightly left or right of center and what is left and what is right?

This might seem simple if u are a staunch democrat or republican. But what if you don't identify with either and you form your opinion on an issue by issue basis?

Looking forward to readin your answers.

G

 

[LuciferSam]

On another thread a poster said that Americans want a President who is slightly right of center. This got me wondering-

What is center? What is slightly left or right of center and what is left and what is right?

This might seem simple if u are a staunch democrat or republican. But what if you don't identify with either and you form your opinion on an issue by issue basis?

Looking forward to readin your answers.

G

I'm kind of a right-loathing libertarian.

 

[Andy A]

I'm kind of a right-loathing libertarian.

Well, that kills this thread

 

[Geo]

Ha. Predictable but funny. Before we establish where we are on the continuum let's try to define the points on the continuum. Just an idea. If yer not into it we can just argue about some stuff

 

[idlewind]

I would say that the right is for less government and the left is for more government, thus, an anarchist would be far right and communists, facsists dictators would be far left. The current party labels are meaningless because the parties are fund raising brands rather than ideological associations.

Americans tend to be slightly right of center cecause we want the government to stay out of our life but tend to want our neighbors regulated.

 

[Bob]

center seeks consensus, compromise

 

[Bob]

I would say that the right is for less government and the left is for more government, thus, an anarchist would be far right and communists, facsists dictators would be far left. The current party laels are meaningless because the parties are fund raising brands rather than ideological associations.

Americans tend to be slightly right of center cecause we want the government to stay out of our life but tend to want our neighbors regulated.

tightening up that definition, americans are slightly right of center because we want socialism to benefit us personally, but are not willing to pay the freight. we hypocritically declare independence from government with one eye on the mailbox for that check. the icing on the cake is protesting the size of federal spending as well over half goes out to entitlements. we have become a nation of self serving tribes dominated by corporate america.

 

[Andy A]

Ha. Predictable but funny. Before we establish where we are on the continuum let's try to define the points on the continuum. Just an idea. If yer not into it we can just argue about some stuff

OK, I'll bite on your trolling. How about these for starting points and you tell me where they fall.
1. Limited government, particularly at the federal level.
2. State's rights adhered to.
3. Spending what we have instead of what we wish we had.
4. More support of entrepreneurs and less of unions.
5. A federal tax system that is functional instead of dysfunctional.
These are five as starting points and what you have proposed is interesting so I'll stop here and let others join in on the fun. BTW, I agree with the poster on the other thread.

 

[LuciferSam]

It's not a line, it's a two dimensional plane. It's authoritarian vs. non authoritarian on one axis and welfare statism vs. capitalism on the other. The Republican party base are authoritarian capitalists. The Democrat party base is still somewhat authoritarian but much less so than the Republicans. They are less capitalistic than the Republicans as well, although I think the Republicans tend to talk the talk without walking the walk in this regard. Reagan might have been the last of the Republican capitalists, but he was just a damn tool in so many other ways.

 

[Geo]

Andy, my trolling?